deliberate aim, with the result that saddles were emptied and horses
galloping riderless in all directions.

However, the party gradually came nearer, till they found that our
firing grew hotter and more true; then, utterly discouraged by its
deadly effect, they wheeled round again, and went off as hard as their
horses could gallop.

"Let them try the same ruse again," said the Colonel, as he turned from
where he had limped to watch the little action, and stood closing his
glass. "Let them come again if they like; but they had the worst of it
this time. Splendidly done, my lads! Excellent!"

The Boers rode right away, then turned and rode back as if about to
renew the attack; but suddenly they drew rein, and a small body came on
at a canter, one of them waving a handkerchief.

"Yes," said the Colonel sternly. "Hold your fire, my lads; they want to
pick up their wounded."

This was soon proved to be the case, and we looked on, thinking how much
better their wounded fared than did ours.

"Yes," said Denham when I said something of the kind to him; "but I hope
they are behaving decently to our poor lads, wounded and prisoners.
Let's give them credit for a little humanity."

The Colonel waited till the enemy had retired with their injured men,
leaving a couple of dead horses on the plain. Already I could see that
the carrion-birds had caught sight of the dead, and were winging their
way to an anticipated feast; but they were disappointed, for the order
had been given, and the horses were being led out again to graze, while
four men, with strong raw-hide plaited reins attached to their saddles,
rode out quickly to play the part of butchers to the beleaguered force,
and shortly after came slowly back drawing a fresh supply of meat for
the garrison. Then the vultures descended to clear away everything
left.

"It makes one shudder," said Denham to me as we sat perched upon a
broken portion of the wall, resting after the previous day's exertion,
and nursing our rifles.

"Why?" I said, though I felt that I knew what he was about to say.

"Makes one think how it would be if one lay somewhere out on the veldt,
dead and forgotten after a fight."

"Bah! Don't talk about it," I cried.

"Can't help it," he replied. "It makes me want to practise my shooting
upon those loathsome crows."

"Why should you?" I replied. "They are only acting according to their
nature, and--Hullo! Look yonder; what's the matter wi